> I need some very basic info on things that everyone here seems to know about. > I'm feeling a little insecure (OK fine, I feel stupid asking but I don't know > and want too) Brian - Don't feel insecure. I'm still learning alot of this stuff myself. I know what you mean by feeling stupid but everyone here has treated with with respect and that is what beginners like us need. :-) > What are Ball Grid Arrays, do they replace IC's? Is it more > expensive that other compatable parts.....will it drive up price if I use > them. Are they only used for certain app.'s I know it's a type of packaging that can be difficult to route and expensive to use - and we don't use them here. > I know it's alot of questions, Me too! >also what actually is a blind or buried via. Is > a buried via for internal layers only? Yep, a blind via is one that doesn't go the whole way thru a board. It ends on an internal layer. A buried via is between two internal layers only. We don't use those either. Should we take turns asking basic questions? Or flip a coin? Seriously, get a subscription to PCD magazine. That is such a wonderful source for information and alot of it is written that we can at least get the gist of it. Besides, Pete Waddell's "Back Page" is a must-read! I read it first *then* the rest of the issue. JoAnn L. Amerson Design Librarian Red Lion Controls, Inc. E-mail: [log in to unmask] Voice: (717) 767-6961 ext 6308 ################################################################ TechNet E-Mail Forum provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8c ################################################################ To subscribe/unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the body: To subscribe: SUBSCRIBE TechNet <your full name> To unsubscribe: SIGNOFF TechNet ################################################################ Please visit IPC web site (http://jefry.ipc.org/forum.htm) for additional information. For the technical support contact Dmitriy Sklyar at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.311 ################################################################